SB17 • 2026

Enforcement of vehicle liens; increases property value.

An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-644.03 of the Code of Virginia, relating to enforcement of vehicle liens; property value.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Suetterlein
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: Governor's Veto
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was vetoed, so it did not become law despite passing the Legislature.

Increasing Value for Vehicle Auctions Without Court Order

This act increases the maximum value of property from $12,500 to $17,000 that can be sold at public auction without a court order when there is a lien on a motor vehicle.

What This Bill Does

Increases the limit for selling vehicles with liens in auctions from $12,500 to $17,000.

Who It Names or Affects

People who have their car in the hands of companies like tow trucks, garages, or self-storage places.
Businesses that keep cars temporarily and want to sell them at auctions.

Terms To Know

lien: A legal claim on a property by someone who is owed money for it.
public auction: A sale where items are sold to the highest bidder in front of everyone.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill was vetoed by the Governor, meaning it did not become law.
It is unclear how many more vehicles will be affected by this change.
There may be concerns about whether vehicle owners are protected from unauthorized sales.

Bill History

2026-04-22 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-04-22 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-04-13 Governor
Vetoed by Governor
2026-03-10 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-10 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-05 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB17)
2026-03-04 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-04 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-04 Senate
Enrolled
2026-03-04 Senate
Enrolled
2026-02-27 House
Read third time
2026-02-27 House
Passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-26 House
Read second time
2026-02-24 Transportation
Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N)
2026-02-09 House
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-09 House
Read first time
2026-02-09 Transportation
Referred to Committee on Transportation
2026-02-04 Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (32-Y 8-N 0-A)
2026-02-03 Senate
Read second time
2026-02-03 Senate
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
2026-02-02 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-02 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-02 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-02 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-02 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-01-29 Transportation
Reported from Transportation (10-Y 4-N)
2026-01-19 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB17)
2025-11-17 Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100489D
2025-11-17 Transportation
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Official Summary Text

Enforcement of vehicle liens; property value.
Increases from $12,500 to $17,000 the maximum value of property that may be sold at public auction to satisfy a lien on a motor vehicle without petitioning for a court order for the sale of such property. This bill is identical to HB 1288.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

(SB17)
GOVERNOR'S VETO
Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 17, which would allow tow truck companies, garage keepers, mechanics, and self-storage facilities to auction off more vehicles in their possession without judicial approval.
Companies often take temporary custody of a person's vehicle, including when a car needs routine maintenance, when the person parks at the airport, when a vehicle breaks down, or in less honest cases, when a person is the victim of predatory towing. Regardless of the reason why, Virginians should not have to worry that the company with temporary possession of their vehicle can sell it without their permission or a court order.
Senate Bill 17 would put more vehicle owners at risk by increasing the vehicle valuation limit from $12,500 to $17,000, allowing companies with temporary possession of a person's car to use an administrative process to conduct a public auction of the car. Senate Bill 17 would result in a significant increase in the number of vehicles that could be sold without going through the process of getting a court order.
Accordingly, I veto this bill.